Opinion on solar panel kit wanted

The kit is fine. But with all kits... is it exactly what you need?

Panels are fine and that is bulk of the cost.
I would probably upgrade the controller but there are plenty of posts of people that prefer lowest cost.
Check the cable length is plenty for your installation. Upgrade to the proper length is better than a splice. Solar BLVD will custom cut to any length as needed for an RV.
Go ahead and price the items individually and compare cost as I doubt there is much if any discount vs individual pieces. Then change to any preferred items and compare cost.

If you change components be sure to either post all up here or call SolarBLVD to verify compatibility.

I bought all my primary components from SolarBLVD.

You can get 100w panels here for $125 plus tax if you pick them up yourself and that controller is $20, which makes JiminDenver's kit example look decent for price.

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/30A-Solar-Regulator-Panel-Battery-Charge-Controller-12V-24V-Auto-Autoswitch-PKE-/400490453900?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5d3f175b8c

I've only recently started suggesting the kits as up until recently they were so over priced that it was cheaper to buy higher quality parts piece by piece. Even now the kits are cheap but the controllers are definitely not top of the line.

I could better the price by a bit with this kit from windy nation with free shipping.

click



I do think 300w is too much for a 20a controller, especially up where I camp and get that high altitude boost.

Don't know where BFL got his 130 in that formula, but 19A total Isc is really too close to the rated 20A PWM limit. For 300W array I would go for 25A controller.

The price - to me this kit has only one useful item: 2*150w panel. Possibly, 2*MC4 Y-connectors, they are expensive but you only need them if you run a parallel without a roof junction box. Everything else is either wrong item or wrong quantity. 40ft #10 wire is too short for on-rig installations, this is mere 20ft one way run. Z-brackets are a cr-p. Controller is too weak for this setup. And yes, there was a negative feedback on Phocos 30 - which in itself doesn't mean much, but the brand is not popular in RV.

PS: one more thing. Panels under 200w are usually expensive per watt. If you rig allows a single 24v nominal panel 250-300W (i.e. Vmp ~30), this would be cheaper in terms of panels, but then you need MPPT controller which is both good and bad news.

20A Eco does have its shortcomings though is enough for a single 300W or 2*150 parallel. Unless you camp high in the mountains and always tilt and aim it perfectly, after all the losses you will never get more than 240W out of 300W panel, i.e. 18A @ 13V. Morning sun is weak, not much Imp, and if you take care to keep the overnight draw within you average daily energy harvest and don't discharge below SOC 75-80, by noon your batts are higher than 13V so they don't need much current.

You might try and find a residential solar contractor in your area that would sell you a panel or two. They probably order them by the pallet so their purchase price and the shipping should be quite small.
I'm in the solar business here in VA. I can buy panels for $.70 per watt and up.
Phocos is not a brand of controller I would want.
Having said all of that, that price really isn't so bad for the panels and the shipping. The rest of the stuff isn't worth much. But, I think you can do better.

Don't know where BFL got his 130 in that formula, but 19A total Isc is really too close to the rated 20A PWM limit. For 300W array I would go for 25A controller.

The price - to me this kit has only one useful item: 2*150w panel. Possibly, 2*MC4 Y-connectors, they are expensive but you only need them if you run a parallel without a roof junction box. Everything else is either wrong item or wrong quantity. 40ft #10 wire is too short for on-rig installations, this is mere 20ft one way run. Z-brackets are a cr-p. Controller is too weak for this setup. And yes, there was a negative feedback on Phocos 30 - which in itself doesn't mean much, but the brand is not popular in RV.

The usual rule for PWM is you need 20% margin over your rated Isc amps for sizing the controller and the fuse that goes on the pos line near the battery.

300w pointed at a high sun can get you 300/130 x 8.2 = 19a (which should be about twice the Isc of a 150w panel) so the 20a controller supplied is inadequate for amps size.

Also that controller has been noted on this forum in other kits as a poor one for some reason can't remember so you will need a better controller anyway. Lots of 25 and 30a PWM controllers on ebay at low cost, so no problem there.

As to that kit's price, just take off the "free" shipping and go with what they really cost and it looks better.

An alternative to consider is a single 24v panel in the 250w range and the 20a Eco-worthy ($102) or Tracer $130) MPPT controller.

For 300W including wiring, hardware, controller and SH that is a good price.

And shipping.

pianotuna wrote:
Hi RJ,

It is under $2 per watt. Please show us your source for $1 per watt with hardware, controller and wire?

RJsfishin wrote:
W/ solar running near $1 a watt, and a $15 controller, how is that a good deal at $500 ?

RJsfishin wrote:
W/ solar running near $1 a watt, and a $15 controller, how is that a good deal at $500 ?

I have been unable to find solar panels at $1 a watt in the north east. Buying panels from the south west where the best deals are gets expensive due to the shipping cost. Maybe I should look harder.